Map and Elevation Profile

Trail Description

Located in the Steelhead area of Mission, the trailhead is a 1.5 hour drive from downtown Vancouver. It is not public transit-accessible.

The trailhead is accessed from the intersection of Sabo Street and Hunter Street. Sabo Street will end and access to Hunter Street is blocked off as it is an active logging road. There is a small gravel parking lot on the left. Park here.

There are no markers or anything as this is not a trail, it’s a road. Stay on this road, do not take any of the various branches off it. Always keep left at any fork. After 3.85 km you will reach the end of the road and there will be a lookout over Stave Lake.

At the time we hiked it (March 18, 2018) the road was clear only for the first km. After that, the snow appeared and got deeper and deeper. The last km had deep, soft snow. While we managed fine is microspikes and waterproof hiking boots with good tread, snowshoes would have been ideal to stay atop of the snow as we sank through to our mid-calves in many parts making the hike feel a lot harder than it was. The snow was probably hip-depth at most so no worry of dangers post-holing, falling into crazy deep snow or anything. The grade of the road is not very steep and there was not any snow on the slopes around it so no avalanche risk to be worried about.

The first and last kilometres are the steepest gaining 150 metres of elevation each. The two kilometres in between are pretty flat.

This is an out-and-back hike so just retrace your steps to get back.

Safety

Regardless of which hike you’re doing, what time of day it is, what time of year, the length or difficulty level of the hike, or even how familiar with the trail you are, you need to ALWAYS be prepared and leave trip plan before venturing into the great outdoors. Read our safety overview for more information like carrying the 10 essentials.